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News Archive 2009: May
Mars orbiter imagery boosts Curiosity rover's life search
NASA and university scientists reviewing data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter say evidence is growing that the planet harbored life in its past or that Martian microbes exist now. The MRO data is being used to narrow the best sites to locate life related evidence, while also being safe enough for the Mars Science Laboratory rover "Curiosity" set for launch in 2011. FULL STORY
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PRESENTATION OF MARS ORBITER IMAGERY PLAY VIDEO:
LANDING SITE OPTIONS FOR MARS SCIENCE LAB PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Endeavour switches pads
Space shuttle Endeavour left pad 39B Sunday morning, having completed its role as a standby rescue vehicle during the recent Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission, and moved to pad 39A where the ship will launch from in just two weeks. PAD ROLLAROUND UPDATES
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PAD 39A GANTRY ENCLOSES SHUTTLE PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
ROLLAROUND MOVES ENDEAVOUR TO PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
ENDEAVOUR IS HAULED OFF LAUNCH PAD 39B PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
TIME-LAPSE OF SHUTTLE'S LAUNCH PAD SWITCH PLAY MORE:STS-127 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Planet-hunting method succeeds at last
A long-proposed tool for hunting planets has netted its first catch -- a Jupiter-like planet orbiting one of the smallest stars known. The technique, called astrometry, was first attempted 50 years ago to search for planets outside our solar system. FULL STORY
Shuttle managers pressing ahead with planned launch
NASA managers met Friday and decided to continue processing the shuttle Endeavour for launch June 13 on a five-spacewalk space station assembly mission while continuing an analysis of a short circuit that knocked an avionics unit off line during the shuttle Atlantis' liftoff May 11. FULL STORY
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SHUTTLE AND STATION PROGRAM UPDATE PLAY VIDEO:
THE STS-127 MISSION OVERVIEW BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
PREVIEW BRIEFING ON MISSION'S SPACEWALKS PLAY VIDEO:
THE ASTRONAUTS' PRE-FLIGHT NEWS BRIEFING PLAY MORE:STS-127 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Double-sized international crew united aboard station
A Russian Soyuz capsule docked with the International Space Station Friday, doubling the lab's crew to six in a long-awaited milestone intended to boost productivity and science output. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER
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HATCH OPENING AND WELCOMING CEREMONY PLAY VIDEO:
SOYUZ SPACECRAFT DOCKS TO SPACE STATION PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
NASA faces hurdles to launch Endeavour in June
Space shuttle Endeavour will switch launch pads at the Kennedy Space Center on Sunday morning, a move that's coming later than expected and making the schedules leading toward a mid-June station construction flight even tighter. FULL STORY
XMM-Newton takes us to black hole's edge
Using new data from the European Space Agency's XMM-Newton spaceborne observatory, astronomers have probed closer than ever to a supermassive black hole lying deep at the core of a distant active galaxy. FULL STORY
Student renames Mars Science Laboratory rover
NASA's Mars Science Laboratory rover, scheduled for launch in 2011, has a new name thanks to a sixth-grade student from Kansas. Twelve-year-old Clara Ma from the Sunflower Elementary school in Lenexa submitted the winning entry, "Curiosity." FULL STORY
Radio supernova is nearest supernova in 5 years
The chance discovery last month of a rare radio supernova - an exploding star seen only at radio wavelengths and undetected by optical or X-ray telescopes - underscores the promise of new, more sensitive radio surveys to find supernovas hidden by gas and dust. FULL STORY
Space station awaits doubling of crew this week
A Russian Soyuz rocket roared to life and streaked into orbit Wednesday, setting off after the International Space Station in a long-awaited mission to boost the lab's crew from three to six full-time residents. FULL STORY PREVIEW STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER - live text and video!
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FULL LAUNCH EXPERIENCE FROM LIFTOFF TO ORBIT PLAY VIDEO:
NARRATED HIGHLIGHTS OF CREW'S LAUNCH PREPS PLAY VIDEO:
CREW MEETS VIPS AND REPORTERS ON EVE OF LAUNCH PLAY VIDEO:
SOYUZ MOVED TO LAUNCH PAD FOR EXPEDITION 20 PLAY VIDEO:
ASSEMBLY OF RUSSIAN SOYUZ ROCKET COMPLETED PLAY VIDEO:
HIGHLIGHTS OF CREW'S ACTIVITIES AT BAIKONUR PLAY VIDEO:
MISSION OVERVIEW BRIEFING FOR EXPEDITION 20 PLAY VIDEO:
EXPEDITION 20 CREW PRE-FLIGHT BRIEFING PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Secret PAN satellite leads Cape milspace launch surge
A new military satellite so highly classified the U.S. government will not even divulge which military or intelligence agency owns it is undergoing final checkout for liftoff this summer at Cape Canaveral. FULL STORY OUR ATLAS ARCHIVE OUR DELTA ARCHIVE
Miles O'Brien commentary: The Hubble Constant
I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Hubble Repair Missions. After all, I cut my teeth on the space beat covering the legendary STS-61 mission in December 1993 - the first, the most dramatic - and certainly the most important - of the five astronaut telescope calls now inscribed in the space history books. FULL STORY
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THE FULL LANDING EXPERIENCE PLAY VIDEO:
ATLANTIS LANDS AT EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE PLAY VIDEO:
GO BEHIND THE SCENES WITH FLIGHT CONTROL TEAM PLAY VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAY: CAMERA 1 PLAY VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAY: CAMERA 2 PLAY VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAY: CAMERA 3 PLAY VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAY: CAMERA 4 PLAY VIDEO:
CREW TAKES WALKAROUND TOUR OF SHUTTLE ON RUNWAY PLAY VIDEO:
COMMENTS FROM COMMANDER SCOTT ALTMAN PLAY VIDEO:
NASA'S POST-LANDING NEWS BRIEFING PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Victoria gives Opportunity view into Mars' history
Opportunity's two-year stay in Mars' Victoria Crater is now bearing fruit, with the publication of the first major analysis of the erosional processes from wind and water that have sculpted the geology of the crater. FULL STORY
Did life need the asteroid bombardment?
A period 3.9 billion years ago when Earth was peppered with impacts by large asteroids may have created an environment in which primitive life could take hold, rather than destroying that life. FULL STORY
Former astronaut Charles Bolden picked to lead NASA
Nineteen years after helping launch the Hubble Space Telescope, Charles F. Bolden Jr., a former combat pilot, Marine Corps major general and veteran space shuttle commander, has been selected by the Obama administration to serve as the space agency's next administrator. FULL STORY
Weather extends shuttle Atlantis mission another day
For the second straight day, persistent unfavorable weather conditions at the Florida spaceport prevented shuttle Atlantis from returning from space Saturday. NASA decided to keep Atlantis aloft an additional 24 hours in hopes for a break in the weather at Kennedy Space Center for touchdown at 10:09 a.m. EDT on Sunday. SCRUB STORY MORNING WAKEUP STORY MAPS:SATURDAY'S LANDING TRACKS NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. N (.pdf download)
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LANDING POSTPONED AN ADDITIONAL DAY BY WEATHER PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Unfavorable weather delays shuttle landing to Saturday
The Atlantis astronauts got a bonus day in orbit thanks to bad weather at the Kennedy Space Center that forced Mission Control to cancel Friday's landing opportunities in Florida. The shuttle remained in space and target a landing on Saturday. MAPS:FRIDAY'S LANDING TRACKS NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. M (.pdf download)
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LANDING POSTPONED 24 HOURS BY BAD WEATHER PLAY VIDEO:
PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 12 ACTIVITIES PLAY VIDEO:
FLIGHT DAY 11 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to peer into history
Factors of time and distance have obscured from view the winners and losers that remain across one of the great battlegrounds of the Cold War - the Moon. Those interfering veils are about to be lifted by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, set for liftoff June 17 on the most ambitious lunar mission since Apollo 17 in 1972. FULL STORY
OTHER HEADLINES Additional stories today
Soyuz rocket launches Russian military spacecraft -- Russia launched a new military communications satellite aboard a modernized Soyuz rocket overnight Thursday from the country's northern spaceport.
Iffy weather forecast for Friday's shuttle landing
With the shuttle Atlantis in good shape and no problems with its protective heat shield, NASA managers Thursday released the shuttle Endeavour from stand-by duty for a possible launch on an emergency rescue mission. The Atlantis astronauts, meanwhile, pressed ahead with preparations for landing Friday, keeping tabs on threatening weather in Florida. FULL STORY MORNING WAKEUP STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. K (.pdf download)
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PRE-LANDING MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
TELEVISION NETWORKS INTERVIEW THE CREW PLAY VIDEO:
A LIVE CHAT BETWEEN ASTRONAUTS AND U.S. SENATORS PLAY VIDEO:
PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 11 ACTIVITIES PLAY VIDEO:
FLIGHT DAY 10 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Relive Atlantis' launch with rocket booster cameras
As Atlantis' mission to Hubble winds down, we look back to the shuttle's launch with footage recorded by video cameras on the solid rocket boosters. The movies are presented here for Spaceflight Now Plus users with launch audio.
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LEFT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING UPWARD PLAY VIDEO:
LEFT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING INBOARD PLAY VIDEO:
LEFT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING DOWNWARD PLAY VIDEO:
RIGHT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING UPWARD PLAY VIDEO:
RIGHT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING INBOARD PLAY VIDEO:
RIGHT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING DOWNWARD PLAY MORE:STS-125 VIDEO COVERAGE MORE:HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO SUBSCRIBE NOW
President Obama hails successful Hubble repair
President Barack Obama called the crew of the shuttle Atlantis late Wednesday and congratulated the astronauts on the successful overhaul of the Hubble Space Telescope. He also promised to name a new NASA administrator soon, although he provided no clues as to who might get the nod. FULL STORY POWER CONSERVATION FOR LANDING MORNING WAKEUP STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. I (.pdf download)
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PRESIDENT OBAMA CALLS THE ATLANTIS ASTRONAUTS PLAY VIDEO:
ATLANTIS' HEAT SHIELD OFFICIALLY CLEARED FOR ENTRY PLAY VIDEO:
SHIP-TO-SHIP CALL BETWEEN ATLANTIS AND STATION PLAY VIDEO:
CREW'S IN-FLIGHT NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY VIDEO:
FLIGHT DAY 9 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Space station crew 'toasts' with recycled urine
The three-man crew of the International Space Station explored a strange new world Wednesday, boldly going where no other astronauts have gone before: toasting each other with sips of recycled sweat and urine in a major milestone for the lab complex. FULL STORY
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STATION CREW'S WATER TASTE-TEST CEREMONY PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
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HST SCIENTIST CRITICIZES SHUTTLE RETIREMENT PLAY VIDEO:
HUBBLE DEPLOYED FROM THE SPACE SHUTTLE PLAY VIDEO:
TUESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
COMMANDER SCOTT ALTMAN'S COMMENTS AFTER DEPLOY PLAY VIDEO:
HUBBLE IS HOISTED OUT OF THE PAYLOAD BAY PLAY VIDEO:
ATLANTIS' ROBOT ARM GRAPPLES THE TELESCOPE PLAY VIDEO:
PREVIEW OF HST DEPLOY AND ATLANTIS INSPECTIONS PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Minotaur lofts experimental satellite for U.S. military
A Minotaur rocket made a twilight ascent into space from Virginia's Eastern Shore Tuesday evening, successfully carting an experimental satellite into orbit to begin a year of tactical military exercises on the final frontier. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates! OUR PREVIEW STORY LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE OUR MINOTAUR ARCHIVE
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FLIGHT DAY 8 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
MONDAY NIGHT UPDATE FROM HST CONTROL CENTER PLAY VIDEO:
MONDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
HUBBLE'S HIGH-GAIN ANTENNA BOOMS UNFOLDED PLAY VIDEO:
COVER PUT ON HUBBLE ANTENNA AS EVA CONCLUDES PLAY VIDEO:
REFLECTING ON THE MISSION AS SPACEWALK NEARS END PLAY VIDEO:
SHEET OF THERMAL COVERING ADDED TO BAY 7 DOOR PLAY VIDEO:
NEW THERMAL SHIELDING PANEL PUT ON BAY 8 DOOR PLAY VIDEO:
DEGRADED THERMAL BLANKET PEELED OFF BAY 5 DOOR PLAY VIDEO:
THE OLD FINE GUIDANCE SENSOR STOWED FOR LANDING PLAY VIDEO:
UPGRADED FINE GUIDANCE SENSOR INSTALLED IN HUBBLE PLAY VIDEO:
OLD FINE GUIDANCE SENSOR REMOVED FROM TELESCOPE PLAY VIDEO:
SPACEWALKERS STRUGGLE WITH BOLTS AND LATCHES PLAY VIDEO:
REPLACEMENT OF HUBBLE'S 19-YEAR-OLD BATTERIES PLAY VIDEO:
SPACEWALKERS EMERGE FROM AIRLOCK TO START EVA PLAY VIDEO:
NARRATED PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 5 PLAY VIDEO:
FLIGHT DAY 7 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
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SUNDAY NIGHT UPDATE FROM HST CONTROL CENTER PLAY VIDEO:
SUNDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
SPACE TELESCOPE IMAGING SPECTROGRAPH WORK DONE PLAY VIDEO:
OPENING COVER ON THE ELECTRONICS MODULE ON STIS PLAY VIDEO:
SPACEWALKER MIKE MASSIMINO REMOVES TINY SCREWS PLAY VIDEO:
TRIP FROM AIRLOCK BACK WITH SPARE POWER TOOL PLAY VIDEO:
CAPTURE PLATE MOUNTED ONTO STIS POWER MODULE PLAY VIDEO:
MASSIMINO FIGHTS WITH STUCK BOLT ON HANDRAIL PLAY VIDEO:
SPACEWALKERS GET ORGANIZED FOR STIS REPAIR PLAY VIDEO:
NARRATED PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 4 PLAY VIDEO:
FLIGHT DIRECTOR'S PREVIEW OF MISSION'S DAY 7 PLAY VIDEO:
FLIGHT DAY 6 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Spacewalkers install new instrument, repair another
A spacesuited astronaut cut through shielding on a broken camera deep inside the Hubble Space Telescope Saturday, removed a cover plate that wasn't designed to be taken off in orbit, used a custom tool to pull out four blown circuit boards and then installed a fresh set. And before that, the crew installed a state-of-the-art instrument designed to study the large-scale structure of the universe. REPAIRED INSTRUMENT TESTED SPACEWALKER REPAIRS CAMERA WITH EASE COSTAR REMOVED, SPECTROGRAPH INSTALLED MORNING WAKEUP STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. D (.pdf download)
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SATURDAY NIGHT UPDATE FROM HST CONTROL CENTER PLAY VIDEO:
SATURDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
REPAIR OF ADVANCED CAMERA FOR SURVEYS FINISHED PLAY VIDEO:
WATCH AS GRUNSFELD REPAIRS HUBBLE CAMERA PLAY VIDEO:
COSTAR STOWED IN ATLANTIS' PAYLOAD BAY PLAY VIDEO:
UMBILICALS HOOKED UP TO NEW INSTRUMENT PLAY VIDEO:
COSMIC ORIGINS SPECTROGRAPH INSTALLED PLAY VIDEO:
SPECTROGRAPH PREPPED IN LAUNCH CARRIER PLAY VIDEO:
COSTAR OPTICS PACKAGE REMOVED FROM HUBBLE PLAY VIDEO:
SPACEWALKERS OPEN SHROUD DOORS ON TELESCOPE PLAY VIDEO:
NARRATED PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 3 PLAY VIDEO:
FLIGHT DIRECTOR'S PREVIEW OF MISSION'S DAY 6 PLAY VIDEO:
FLIGHT DAY 5 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
FRIDAY NIGHT UPDATE FROM HST CONTROL CENTER PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Proton rocket launches TV broadcaster for Asia
A Russian Proton rocket lifted off from Kazakhstan early Saturday with a satellite that will broadcast television programming directly into homes across Indonesia and India. FULL STORY
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FRIDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
SPARE GYRO UNIT INSTALLED INTO THIRD POSITION PLAY VIDEO:
ANOTHER GYROSCOPE UNIT PUT INTO SECOND SLOT PLAY VIDEO:
TROUBLE INSTALLING SECOND GYROSCOPE PACKAGE PLAY VIDEO:
REMOVAL OF SECOND GYROSCOPE PACKAGE FROM HUBBLE PLAY VIDEO:
INSTALLATION OF FIRST GYROSCOPE INTO HUBBLE PLAY VIDEO:
REMOVAL OF FIRST GYROSCOPE PACKAGE FROM HUBBLE PLAY VIDEO:
NARRATED PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 2 PLAY VIDEO:
FLIGHT DIRECTOR'S PREVIEW OF MISSION'S DAY 5 PLAY VIDEO:
FLIGHT DAY 4 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Launch of NASA's lunar probes delayed to mid-June
Next month's launch of NASA's tandem lunar exploration probes will be delayed until at least June 17 to finish analysis between the Atlas 5 rocket's upper stage and the impactor spacecraft payload, officials said Friday. FULL STORY
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THURSDAY NIGHT UPDATE FROM HST CONTROL CENTER PLAY VIDEO:
THURSDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
SOFT CAPTURE MECHANISM PUT ON HUBBLE PLAY VIDEO:
SCIENCE INSTRUMENT COMMAND & DATA HANDLING UNIT PLAY VIDEO:
PARTIALLY FAILED SIC&DH UNIT REMOVED FROM HST PLAY VIDEO:
WFPC2 CAMERA STOWED IN ATLANTIS FOR RETURN PLAY VIDEO:
OVERVIEW OF WIDE FIELD CAMERA 3 INSTRUMENT PLAY VIDEO:
SPACEWALKERS INSTALL THE WIDE FIELD CAMERA 3 PLAY VIDEO:
NEW WIDE FIELD CAMERA 3 PREPPED FOR INSTALLATION PLAY VIDEO:
16-YEAR-OLD WFPC2 CAMERA REMOVED FROM HUBBLE PLAY VIDEO:
LATCHING BOLT ON WPFC2 FINALLY RELEASED PLAY VIDEO:
FIGHTING WITH TROUBLESOME BOLT ON WPFC2 PLAY VIDEO:
FEUSTEL INSTALLS HANDLE ONTO WPFC2 FOR REMOVAL PLAY VIDEO:
HANDLING FIXTURE DEPLOYED TO HOLD OLD CAMERA PLAY VIDEO:
GRUNSFELD INSTALLS SUPPORT POSTS UNDER HST PLAY VIDEO:
FEUSTEL OPENS LATCHES ON INSTRUMENT CARRIER PLAY VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS EXIT AIRLOCK TO START EVA NO. 1 PLAY VIDEO:
NARRATED PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 1 PLAY VIDEO:
FLIGHT DAY 3 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Ariane 5 rocket launches double science payload
An Ariane 5 launcher rocketed through blue skies and into space Thursday with two European telescopes designed to give scientists unprecedented views of star birth and the relic light from the Big Bang. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE
Atlantis retrieves Hubble telescope for servicing
The Hubble Space Telescope, hobbled by old age and years of post-Columbia neglect, was plucked out of open space by the crew of the shuttle Atlantis Wednesday, setting the stage for a final five-spacewalk overhaul to give the iconic observatory an extended lease on life. FULL STORY HEAT SHIELD ANALYSIS ALMOST DONE MORNING WAKEUP STORY
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WEDNESDAY NIGHT UPDATE FROM HST CONTROL CENTER PLAY VIDEO:
WEDNESDAY'S MISSION MANAGEMENT TEAM UPDATE PLAY VIDEO:
WEDNESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
TIME-LAPSE OF MOVING HUBBLE INTO PAYLOAD BAY PLAY VIDEO:
SHUTTLE ATLANTIS' ROBOT ARM CAPTURES HUBBLE PLAY VIDEO:
FIRST UP CLOSE VIEWS OF HUBBLE IN 7 YEARS PLAY VIDEO:
SHUTTLE ENGINE FIRING TO CIRCULARIZE ORBIT PLAY VIDEO:
INSIGHTFUL OVERVIEW OF ATLANTIS' MISSION PLAY VIDEO:
NARRATED PREVIEW ANIMATION OF HUBBLE RENDEZVOUS PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Cosmic time machine set for launch into space
Europe is planning to launch a sharp-eyed observatory Thursday to give humans their furthest look back in time to see the cosmic fingerprint of the Big Bang. FULL STORY
European spacecraft to put cold eyes on the Universe
The largest space telescope ever launched is set to begin its journey into deep space Thursday, penning the first chapter of a three-year mission that will peer deep into unseen cold and distant parts of the universe. FULL STORY
Mars rover Spirit struggles with soft soil
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit is facing one of its biggest challenges yet with a patch of soft soil that is currently holding the rover hostage. FULL STORY
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FLIGHT DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
TUESDAY NIGHT UPDATE FROM HST CONTROL CENTER PLAY VIDEO:
TUESDAY'S MISSION MANAGEMENT TEAM UPDATE PLAY VIDEO:
SLOW-MOTION OF DEBRIS THAT APPARENTLY HIT TILES PLAY VIDEO:
TILE DAMAGE FOUND DURING INSPECTIONS PLAY VIDEO:
CAPCOM CALLS CREW ABOUT MINOR DAMAGE PLAY VIDEO:
TUESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
PREVIEW ANIMATION OF HEAT SHIELD INSPECTIONS PLAY VIDEO:
FLIGHT DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
THE FULL STS-125 LAUNCH EXPERIENCE PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: EXTERNAL TANK CAMERA PLAY VIDEO:
FOOTAGE OF FUEL TANK AFTER JETTISON PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: FRONT CAMERA PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: BEACH TRACKER PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD PERIMETER PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: UCS-23 TRACKER PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA CS-1 PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA CS-2 PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA CS-6 PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: VAB ROOF PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: PRESS SITE PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: WEST TOWER PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 009 PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 041 PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 049 PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 050 PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 051 PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 060 PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 061 PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 063 PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 070 PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 071 PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Cargo ship arrives at the International Space Station
The International Space Station has received a new load of supplies from the latest Russian-built cargo freighter, which successfully docked to the outpost at 3:24 p.m. EDT Tuesday. FULL STORY
Servicing mission begins to extend Hubble's life
With a second shuttle on standby for possible rescue duty, the shuttle Atlantis blasted off Monday on a high-stakes five-spacewalk mission to resuscitate the aging Hubble Space Telescope, a fifth and final housecall to give the hobbled satellite a new lease on life. OUR LAUNCH STORY PRESS RELEASE ON MONDAY'S WEBCAST NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. A (.pdf download) LAUNCH WINDOWS CHART COUNTDOWN TIMELINE
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SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS BLASTS OFF! PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
STS-125 POST-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY VIDEO:
INSIDE MISSION CONTROL DURING LAUNCH PLAY VIDEO:
NARRATED ANIMATION OF DAY 1 INSPECTIONS PLAY VIDEO:
FINAL PRE-LAUNCH READINESS POLLS CONDUCTED PLAY VIDEO:
SHUTTLE'S CREW MODULE HATCH CLOSED FOR FLIGHT PLAY VIDEO:
MISSION SPECIALIST MEGAN MCARTHUR BOARDS PLAY VIDEO:
PILOT GREG JOHNSON BOARDS ATLANTIS PLAY VIDEO:
MISSION SPECIALIST JOHN GRUNSFELD BOARDS PLAY VIDEO:
SHUTTLE COMMANDER SCOTT ALTMAN BOARDS PLAY VIDEO:
CREW DEPARTS QUARTERS FOR LAUNCH PAD PART 1 | PART 2 VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS DON SPACESUITS FOR LAUNCH PLAY VIDEO:
TIME-LAPSE OF LAUNCH PAD GANTRY ROLLBACK PLAY VIDEO:
HUBBLE'S FUTURE AFTER ATLANTIS SERVICING PLAY VIDEO:
TOP DISCOVERIES MADE BY HUBBLE TELESCOPE PLAY VIDEO:
THE ROLLERCOASTER LIFE OF HUBBLE PLAY VIDEO:
WHAT IS HUBBLE'S PLACE IN HISTORY? PLAY VIDEO:
ENTERTAINING LOOK AT ATLANTIS' CREW PLAY VIDEO:
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE HISTORY MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
A TRIBUTE TO THE CAMERA THAT SAVED HUBBLE PLAY VIDEO:
HUBBLE TELESCOPE PROGRAM BRIEFING FROM SUNDAY PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
The history of Hubble: A grand space telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope has cost U.S. taxpayers some $10 billion in the quarter century since the project was approved. But to astronomers around the world, the high-flying satellite is, in a word, priceless. FULL STORY
The first underwater sim for the final Hubble EVA
In late April, astronaut Mike Massimino completed the final underwater simulation and described it as "an historic day," coming more than 25 years since the start of such space suited training sessions for Hubble mission crews. It was equally poignant for Spaceflight Now's Craig Covault, who had performed one of the first such Hubble tests. FULL STORY
Everything remains on track for Monday's launch
The shuttle Atlantis' countdown is proceeding smoothly toward launch Monday on an $887 million mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope, with forecasters now predicting a 90 percent chance of acceptable weather in Florida and only a slight chance of showers near an emergency runway in Spain. SUNDAY UPDATE STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE (.pdf download)
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SUNDAY'S COUNTDOWN STATUS AND WEATHER UPDATE PLAY VIDEO:
THE STS-125 PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY VIDEO:
SATURDAY'S COUNTDOWN STATUS AND WEATHER UPDATE PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Astronauts arrive as shuttle countdown starts ticking
The seven space shuttle astronauts arrived at the Kennedy Space Center shortly past 5 p.m. EDT Friday, an hour after the three-day countdown began for Atlantis' planned Monday launch to service the Hubble Space Telescope. FULL STORY
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ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE AT THE CAPE FOR LAUNCH PLAY VIDEO:
FRIDAY'S COUNTDOWN STATUS AND WEATHER UPDATE PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Minotaur rocket launch from Virginia postponed
Friday night's launch of a technology demonstration satellite aboard a Minotaur rocket from Virginia was scrubbed after a controller noticed a voltage parameter was out of limits and ordered a hold about two minutes before liftoff. Follow the countdown in our live status journal: MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates! OUR PREVIEW STORY LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE OUR MINOTAUR ARCHIVE
NASA braces for review of manned space flight plans
Reeling from projected budget cuts totaling more than $3 billion through 2013, NASA managers and engineers working to build a post-shuttle rocket system for an eventual return to the moon are bracing for a critical review ordered by the Obama administration that could set the agency on a different course. FULL STORY
NASA budget and manned space review announced
Unveiling NASA's $18.7 billion fiscal 2010 budget Thursday, acting Administrator Chris Scolese said the Obama administration had ordered an independent review of NASA's plans to replace the space shuttle with a combination of manned and unmanned Ares rockets, Apollo-style Orion capsules and lunar landers needed to establish research stations on the moon by the early 2020s. FULL STORY NASA BUDGET PAGE
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BRIEFING ON NASA'S 2010 BUDGET REQUEST PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Cargo freighter launches toward the space station
Another Russian-made resupply ship for the International Space Station was successfully launched into orbit Thursday, beginning a longer-than-usual trek to catch up with the outpost. FULL STORY
STS-400: 'Just in case'
When the space shuttle Atlantis blasts off on NASA's final mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope, the shuttle Endeavour and a four-man crew will be standing by for launch on a mission space agency managers hope will never be needed: an emergency rescue flight to bring the Atlantis astronauts back to Earth if heat shield damage or some other problem prevents a safe re-entry. FULL STORY MOVIES:ENDEAVOUR PREPS IN HD VIDEO MOVIES:STANDARD DEFINITION VIDEO
Mission preview: One last shuttle visit to Hubble
NASA's fifth and final mission to service and upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope will add one of the most dramatic chapters yet to an ongoing saga that reads like "The Perils of Pauline." Or an over-the-top Hollywood screenplay about a scientific superstar repeatedly rescued from the brink of disaster. MISSION PREVIEW REPORT
Delta 2 rocket launches missile defense craft
A quasi-classified satellite that will serve as an engineering trailblazer for ballistic missile tracking technologies flew into space Tuesday, riding aloft aboard a Delta 2 rocket launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. MISSION STATUS CENTER -live updates! PHOTOS:LAUNCH GALLERY PHOTOS:MORE LAUNCH SHOTS PHOTOS:PRE-FLIGHT VIEWS LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE GROUND TRACK MAP
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DELTA ROCKET LAUNCHES WITH STSS-ATRR PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
SPACEFLIGHT NOW'S LAUNCH PAD CAMERA PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Herschel and Planck space observatories near launch
Two missions to probe the far reaches of the Universe are gearing up to launch from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana on May 14. FULL STORY
Rogue black holes may roam the Milky Way
It sounds like the plot of a sci-fi movie: rogue black holes roaming our galaxy, threatening to swallow anything that gets too close. In fact, new calculations suggest that hundreds of massive black holes, left over from the galaxy-building days of the early universe, may wander the Milky Way. FULL STORY
Resolving galactic mystery
An extremely deep Chandra X-ray Observatory image of a region near the center of our galaxy has resolved a long-standing mystery about an X-ray glow along the plane of the galaxy. The glow in the region covered by the Chandra image was discovered to be caused by hundreds of point-like X-ray sources, implying that the glow along the plane of the galaxy is due to millions of such sources. FULL STORY
Most recent shuttle crew presents its mission movie
Shuttle Discovery performed an orbital construction mission in March that installed the final section of the space station's truss structure, unfurled two giant solar wings that finished assembly of the outpost's electrical grid and boosted the international science laboratories to full power. The STS-119 astronauts recap the mission in this post-flight presentation. VIDEO REPORT STS-119 MISSION COVERAGE
VIDEO:
PRESENTATION OF MARS ORBITER IMAGERY 
